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A guest post written by Marc Thompson
I had a very normal childhood spending most of my time outside with friends after school and on weekends – riding bikes, hiking, swimming, running, climbing trees, etc. On Sundays my family attended the local Christian Science Church, where my sister and I went to the Sunday School. Whenever I would get hurt it was my mother who would lovingly clean me up with soap and water, apply a bandage when needed, and then we would pray and study the weekly Bible lesson together. Individuals seeking to gain a better understanding of God and His creation study this lesson, which is comprised entirely of Bible selections and citations from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. Occasionally, my mother would call my Sunday School teacher or a Christian Science practitioner to talk with me and to also pray. This approach in dealing with injuries or any health problems such as measles, mumps, fever, or colds, without doctors or medicines, was and still is very natural for me.
Early in my marriage a friend who was a carpenter left his electric circular saw at our house so that we could finish a project the following day. An aluminum divider needed to be trimmed, so I decided to trim the end of the divider myself after he was gone. I had braced the divider with my left foot as I was cutting of the end, and as it was cut off the trimmed piece went into and out of the saw guard and cut through my left foot from the ankle to the bottom of the arch of my instep. My wife called a Christian Science practitioner and then a Christian Science nurse to help me. The nurse was so calm and encouraging as she cleaned my foot and applied a bandage that she reminded me of my mother.
Being a hairstylist, my fear was that I wouldn’t be able to stand on that foot to do my work and would possibly lose clients and income. The next day before going to the salon, I obtained a crutch to assist me. At noon I called the practitioner and during our talk I mentioned the crutch. He reminded me of a beginning statement in Science and Health, “To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.” What an encouraging statement this was for me! My concerns melted away and I set aside the crutch and replaced it with the idea that God was holding me up and caring for me. I took my stand there.
Within the week I was standing without discomfort and walking normally. No stiches, no antibiotics or antiseptics, no crutches, and no scar! Praying as I’ve learned in Christian Science has taken care of all my health needs, including those of my body, business, finances, family matters, etc.
For my family and me it has become a truly universal health care system.
About the author
Thank you.
Thanks Marc, my upbringing was similar and I too feel that prayer is very natural to my health and well being. I do understand that some people would not think prayer should be their first choice if they were not brought up like you and I were. But I think the world thought is changing and more and more people, including doctors, are seeing the value of prayer in healing the sick. In the Bible we read, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick.” (James 5:15)
In the beginning for her chapter on prayer in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible to God.” Like you, I was raised with an “absolute faith” that God could and would heal me, no matter what the circumstances. Thanks Marc for sharing your wonderful healing.
Thank you for that dramatic and powerful healing demonstration. How often what we need to lean on is the sustaining Infinite…not a human crutch of any kind. Your story is wonderful proof that God and prayer work!!
What a beautiful example of God’s love for all of us, Marc! Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m going to share this particular article with a few friends of mine who aren’t familiar with Christian Science. Just last week they were asking if, by being raised in Christian Science, I ever felt neglected or afraid, and I was struggling to put into words how loved and comforted I always felt BECAUSE of Christian Science, not in spite of it. This article will help me immensely with that.
Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing a wonderful testimony.
I read this blog post yesterday and was so inspired that I wrote myself a little note to take with me all day. It says, “God is holding me up and caring for me. I take my stand there,” and then Mary Baker Eddy’s opening lines from her textbook quoted above.
I had been impressed by a pain in my leg and the suggestions of difficulty that went with it. The pain has stopped, and more importantly, the fears surrounding it. I have felt God’s warm Love instead.
In looking up our church’s listing online, I came across some books by people who have stepped away from Christian Science. I am comforted to know that God’s great Love is still holding them up and caring for them and always will. Everyone is privileged to feel the Love of God, no matter what!